It is now almost 20 years ago, has the iron curtain in Berlin, the wall opened. Many people in East and West and in the rest of the world to see this day as a historic moment as a milestone in German history. That's him! I will never the evening of the 09th November forgot where I was sitting with a small radio in my room and heard the press conference by Günther Schabowsky . I was just 16 years old, the beginning of the 10th Class and it was certainly not the everyday habits of a boy that age to hear those radio shows. It all began well before something ...
After the FDJ " forced ", was my political thinking, my right and wrongdoing were awake, I informed myself more and more about topics such as democracy, the press and freedom of expression, rule of law and so on. I came with writers, teachers, intellectuals, journalists and free of other minded people together. Only in small groups with anyone at home, later it became more and we dodged in club rooms and churches. In early 1988, I took contact with civil rights movements, such as "democracy now", "recovery east" and "New Forum" and formed a kind of interface between these organizations and also mature students who are not active because of their age policy in such a could be a group. I went with like-minded people to readings and demonstrations, vigils held and was more than once in controls and arrests by state security. My certificate was political, but purely as my confidence and I could usually go after verification of the person. Maybe that was also on my family situation and you did not want to bring the son of a senior party functionary in disrepute. Nothing precise is not known. Discussions in this direction brought absolutely nothing - until now.
A week before the fall was the Berlin Wall I in the presence of the student council of my lines and system loyal school principal, the Civics and history teacher, the " confidence " and asked me to be is another public rebuke of the school. Many students at my school were behind me, shared my thoughts and put them known in their own way. But there was also the Jeniger who were switched from the same state, family and society so that they considered me a traitor and enemy of the state. Both groups were responsible for my further action and I am glad it has given both sides.
went on our discussion groups, it primarily to changes - changes that were needed in the GDR. We took ideas from writers, civil rights activists, economists, citizens and even from the "capitalist countries" and made plans on how to improve society. Both in the case of reunification, as well as existing two states in Germany. And then everything happened very quickly ... A press conference with Günter Schabowsky in the evening, an ill-sentence - Thousands of Berlin left their warm homes and flocked to the border crossings between East and West Berlin.
What then followed is history: the pressure of the masses were intensified from hour to hour and the authorities of the border security -making and disoriented. The press release from radio and television was with them in the form of a command never arrived. There was more uncertain on one side and desire for freedom on the other side of the barrier. Shortly before midnight, gave the border guards to finally and opened only slowly, then complete the installations border between East and West and thousands of East citizens flocked gene West. Surveys showed that no one thought of a permanent departure, a lot more stressed all "emigrants" it go more for a visit and to the principle. Thus, just Berliners.
I too was one of them and saw this Moment of freedom at the border crossing disability in downtown Berlin. We waited more than two hours before the bar of the border and the chants grew louder by the hour. There were always more Berlin to the rather small border crossing and no one withdrew from the site. It was as would all know that the wait would be worth on this chilly November evening. We had arranged with friends of the family and it was not easy to find each other in the crowd. Fortunately, we succeeded and opened as the border post the barriers and gates, we walked together "on foot" in the direction of Memorial Church / Kurfürstendamm. No other place seemed to us in this Moment to be more important and more honorable than this. We sucked the air of freedom to the fullest in us and enjoyed the walk through the city West Berlin. We were not alone, with a power us curious and East Berlin including some well euphoric West Berlin. On this day, mixed East and West stronger than ever before or after.
On Ku 'damm we were not the first and found it quite fast supplier of branded western products such as coca cola, etc. Snickers their goods directly from trucks to the people dispersed. This situation came to me somehow strange, but I knew those Images from the postwar period in which the Allies brought food to Germany. It was a mixture of joy and compassion - pleasure at the sudden situation, the opening of the borders - pity because of the massive prevailing prejudices against the people of the East (no, we were not poor, we had enough food and sweets were not a problem ). Strange and yet somehow uplifting. It was late at night we returned home and the next day at school there was no other topic.
My political commitment hearing this evening but does not occur. I tried to continue with many other newly freed citizens of a society to shape that can be understood as an opportunity should. We called for many changes and restructuring in the GDR, we developed basic things to make the dictatorship a democracy, grassroots democracy, that of the people be given just the voice in the policy of their own country what it have allegedly been 40 years should (keyword: Workers 'and Peasants' State, Power to the People). The West Germany could benefit from it and should.
Instead, it turned out differently, the part 40 years, proven products of the GDR disappeared "overnight" from the shops in the east and the shelves were filled with goods of large retail chains in Germany. The people of East Germany welcomed this step, without knowing that they would ruin themselves and their children so long time to come. Production of goods without the associated companies are also dedicated to destruction., Therefore, many unemployed people. The major industries of the GDR was ailing and had an extensive and expensive renovation needed. Since this is not really in the plan of businessmen adapted from the Federal Republic, the plants were not modernized, but was torn down and laid off more workers. So that the whole but not too much like "selling out" and "enrichment" looks, new companies and established businesses in the East - West of companies mind you. These companies received state subsidies in the billions, one reason why many people complain of the old states of the East. It should be noted, the money has not gone into the pockets of the former East German citizens, or as some believe, in the old boys' of the SED, or Stasi. The funds from state subsidies, the tax money from the East and West Germany, wandered into the pockets of corporate CEOs, who in the GDR until all razed and then rebuilt in its meaning again - over 90% of companies in western Germany.
the larger civil rights movements had to step out of hiding in public policy managed and tried to challenge the established parties to claim. There were founded new parties and party alliances and the power-jockeying got more players. But then as now, politics is indeed made by politicians, but conducted by the economy. So it should surprise no one that all good ideas for a new democracy in the sand, were also blocked off and were discussed. Remains of a treaty and a monetary union and the associated complete annexation of the East to the West. Furthermore, more difficult for property restitution laws involving real estate and country recovery of the East. What the West German citizen since 1994, had noted with amazement were the wildfire renovated houses and office buildings in the former East Germany. So well did not see any West German city for 20 or 30 years more, since one can ever complain and complain that all the money is pumped into the east. But what probably know the least likely is that the owners of these houses are not East German citizens, have renovate now with the help of government support their houses, but they are the dispossessed after 1945, West Germans, who get their property back and in their turn redevelop their property with subsidies. Then, of course, increased the rents are generally higher than the old resident citizens could afford - Either in debt they are or they wandered off and the homes remain empty for the most part. Toll invested thinks, because the "all-German".
In view of these and similar developments in all areas of life, I must admit that my knowledge of the economic - and social system of the "western world" is not enough. I first decided to learn more about it and pulled me out of political discussions back a little. I finished school, traveled through Europe, made a number of vocational training and eventually landed in a roundabout way at my desired job - in the media.
After the FDJ " forced ", was my political thinking, my right and wrongdoing were awake, I informed myself more and more about topics such as democracy, the press and freedom of expression, rule of law and so on. I came with writers, teachers, intellectuals, journalists and free of other minded people together. Only in small groups with anyone at home, later it became more and we dodged in club rooms and churches. In early 1988, I took contact with civil rights movements, such as "democracy now", "recovery east" and "New Forum" and formed a kind of interface between these organizations and also mature students who are not active because of their age policy in such a could be a group. I went with like-minded people to readings and demonstrations, vigils held and was more than once in controls and arrests by state security. My certificate was political, but purely as my confidence and I could usually go after verification of the person. Maybe that was also on my family situation and you did not want to bring the son of a senior party functionary in disrepute. Nothing precise is not known. Discussions in this direction brought absolutely nothing - until now.
A week before the fall was the Berlin Wall I in the presence of the student council of my lines and system loyal school principal, the Civics and history teacher, the " confidence " and asked me to be is another public rebuke of the school. Many students at my school were behind me, shared my thoughts and put them known in their own way. But there was also the Jeniger who were switched from the same state, family and society so that they considered me a traitor and enemy of the state. Both groups were responsible for my further action and I am glad it has given both sides.
went on our discussion groups, it primarily to changes - changes that were needed in the GDR. We took ideas from writers, civil rights activists, economists, citizens and even from the "capitalist countries" and made plans on how to improve society. Both in the case of reunification, as well as existing two states in Germany. And then everything happened very quickly ... A press conference with Günter Schabowsky in the evening, an ill-sentence - Thousands of Berlin left their warm homes and flocked to the border crossings between East and West Berlin.
What then followed is history: the pressure of the masses were intensified from hour to hour and the authorities of the border security -making and disoriented. The press release from radio and television was with them in the form of a command never arrived. There was more uncertain on one side and desire for freedom on the other side of the barrier. Shortly before midnight, gave the border guards to finally and opened only slowly, then complete the installations border between East and West and thousands of East citizens flocked gene West. Surveys showed that no one thought of a permanent departure, a lot more stressed all "emigrants" it go more for a visit and to the principle. Thus, just Berliners.
I too was one of them and saw this Moment of freedom at the border crossing disability in downtown Berlin. We waited more than two hours before the bar of the border and the chants grew louder by the hour. There were always more Berlin to the rather small border crossing and no one withdrew from the site. It was as would all know that the wait would be worth on this chilly November evening. We had arranged with friends of the family and it was not easy to find each other in the crowd. Fortunately, we succeeded and opened as the border post the barriers and gates, we walked together "on foot" in the direction of Memorial Church / Kurfürstendamm. No other place seemed to us in this Moment to be more important and more honorable than this. We sucked the air of freedom to the fullest in us and enjoyed the walk through the city West Berlin. We were not alone, with a power us curious and East Berlin including some well euphoric West Berlin. On this day, mixed East and West stronger than ever before or after.
On Ku 'damm we were not the first and found it quite fast supplier of branded western products such as coca cola, etc. Snickers their goods directly from trucks to the people dispersed. This situation came to me somehow strange, but I knew those Images from the postwar period in which the Allies brought food to Germany. It was a mixture of joy and compassion - pleasure at the sudden situation, the opening of the borders - pity because of the massive prevailing prejudices against the people of the East (no, we were not poor, we had enough food and sweets were not a problem ). Strange and yet somehow uplifting. It was late at night we returned home and the next day at school there was no other topic.
My political commitment hearing this evening but does not occur. I tried to continue with many other newly freed citizens of a society to shape that can be understood as an opportunity should. We called for many changes and restructuring in the GDR, we developed basic things to make the dictatorship a democracy, grassroots democracy, that of the people be given just the voice in the policy of their own country what it have allegedly been 40 years should (keyword: Workers 'and Peasants' State, Power to the People). The West Germany could benefit from it and should.
Instead, it turned out differently, the part 40 years, proven products of the GDR disappeared "overnight" from the shops in the east and the shelves were filled with goods of large retail chains in Germany. The people of East Germany welcomed this step, without knowing that they would ruin themselves and their children so long time to come. Production of goods without the associated companies are also dedicated to destruction., Therefore, many unemployed people. The major industries of the GDR was ailing and had an extensive and expensive renovation needed. Since this is not really in the plan of businessmen adapted from the Federal Republic, the plants were not modernized, but was torn down and laid off more workers. So that the whole but not too much like "selling out" and "enrichment" looks, new companies and established businesses in the East - West of companies mind you. These companies received state subsidies in the billions, one reason why many people complain of the old states of the East. It should be noted, the money has not gone into the pockets of the former East German citizens, or as some believe, in the old boys' of the SED, or Stasi. The funds from state subsidies, the tax money from the East and West Germany, wandered into the pockets of corporate CEOs, who in the GDR until all razed and then rebuilt in its meaning again - over 90% of companies in western Germany.
the larger civil rights movements had to step out of hiding in public policy managed and tried to challenge the established parties to claim. There were founded new parties and party alliances and the power-jockeying got more players. But then as now, politics is indeed made by politicians, but conducted by the economy. So it should surprise no one that all good ideas for a new democracy in the sand, were also blocked off and were discussed. Remains of a treaty and a monetary union and the associated complete annexation of the East to the West. Furthermore, more difficult for property restitution laws involving real estate and country recovery of the East. What the West German citizen since 1994, had noted with amazement were the wildfire renovated houses and office buildings in the former East Germany. So well did not see any West German city for 20 or 30 years more, since one can ever complain and complain that all the money is pumped into the east. But what probably know the least likely is that the owners of these houses are not East German citizens, have renovate now with the help of government support their houses, but they are the dispossessed after 1945, West Germans, who get their property back and in their turn redevelop their property with subsidies. Then, of course, increased the rents are generally higher than the old resident citizens could afford - Either in debt they are or they wandered off and the homes remain empty for the most part. Toll invested thinks, because the "all-German".
In view of these and similar developments in all areas of life, I must admit that my knowledge of the economic - and social system of the "western world" is not enough. I first decided to learn more about it and pulled me out of political discussions back a little. I finished school, traveled through Europe, made a number of vocational training and eventually landed in a roundabout way at my desired job - in the media.
